Top News
NIH Launches Intramural Bioengineering Center
The National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) has established the Center for Biomedical Engineering Technology Acceleration (BETA Center), a new intramural research program to accelerate the development, validation and dissemination of cutting-edge technologies. Areas of emphasis will include biomedical imaging, biosensing, engineered and synthetic biology, nanomaterials and biomaterials, artificial intelligence, modeling, computation and informatics.
Administration
CDC Reorganization Plan to Include Focus on Data Infrastructure
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is undertaking a reorganization effort to help improve handling of threats to public health through a more centralized reporting structure with emphasis on data dissemination. The plan includes the establishment of new offices, including the Office of Public Health Data, Surveillance and Technology and the Office of Health Equity.
ONC Releases Draft USCDI Version 4
The Draft United States Core Data for Interoperability, Version 4 (Draft USCDI v4) was released in mid-January. With the publication of Draft USCDI v4, ONC proposes to add 20 data elements across one new data class (Facility Information) and eight existing data classes. The USCDI is an annually updated standardized set of health data classes and data elements developed and adopted by ONC to serve as a baseline for health information exchange and inform interoperable health IT implementation. Review Draft USCDIv4 and submit comments here. Comments are due April 17.
Reminder – Proposed Rules on Prior Authorization and Health Care Attachments Standards
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a pair of proposed rules of interest to the informatics community: Administrative Simplification: Adoption of Standards for Health Care Attachments Transactions and Electronic Signatures, Modification to Referral Certification and Authorization Transaction Standard, AND CMS Proposes Rule to Expand Access to Health Information and Improve the Prior Authorization Process | CMS. AMIA is closely reviewing both rules and will submit comments on each rule during the open public comment period.
Legislation and Politics
Key House Committee Appointments for the 118th Congress
- House Appropriations Committee - Chair: Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX)
- Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations Subcommittee - Chair: Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL)
- House Energy and Commerce Committee - Chair: Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA)
- Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology – Chair: Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH)
- Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health – Chair: Brett Guthrie (R-KY)
- House Ways and Means Chair: Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO)
- House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health Chair: Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL)
Legislation Introduced to Create NIH Office of Inspector General
Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), along with Senators Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Tommy Tubervillle (R-AL) introduced legislation (S.80) to establish an NIH Office of Inspector General to create greater oversight, accountability and transparency within NIH.
Around the Web
- Joint Commission makes health equity a national safety goal; Becker's Hospital Review
- CMS Using Data to Support Health Equity; MeriTalk
- Patient Data Access is Insufficient for 60% of Healthcare Consumers; PatientEngagementHIT
AMIA’s Washington Download is your source for health informatics policy news and information from around the Beltway, covering action from the Hill, the Administration and important AMIA collaborators.